As local pediatricians and as mothers, our hearts go out to the families in Newtown, Conn. The most basic, instinctive need of parents is to protect their children. As pediatricians, so much of what we do is meant to help parents and caregivers do this. A tragedy like Sandy Hook should simply never happen again.

We want to ensure that every child in our community has a safe and healthy childhood. The American Academy of Pediatrics has long advocated specific measures to prevent violence to children. We support these measures and encourage all in the community to join us in supporting:

■ A ban the sale of assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines to the public

■ Stricter firearms safety laws

■ Greater support for mental health services

From our perspectives as both parents and pediatricians, we encourage all adults to help children limit their exposure to violence. We recommend limiting children’s exposure to media violence, such as in movies and video games. We appreciate and support the efforts of multiple community agencies that work daily to promote positive behavior and reduce violence to children.

Pediatricians, parents, teachers and all who care for children will continue to look for ways to comfort, support, nurture and protect them. We encourage everyone to contact legislators to show your support for legislative changes recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics that will keep our children safer. We also encourage parents to have frank discussions with their children about safety, emotional and physical health. Please continue the dialogue by talking to your pediatrician about how to keep your children and teenagers safe and emotionally healthy, or visit www.aap.org to learn more.